eels helpless fear inside the small home. The whole house is full of worry.
Superstition and Belief: This theme rules the villagers’ minds. They trust old sayings. They fear that the scorpion will move again. They say,
“With every movement that the scorpion made his poison moved in Mother’s blood.”
They pray for the scorpion to sit still. They repeat many lines that start with “May.” They say her pain will burn past sins. They think her pain will bring bad luck in her next life. Their belief shows a deep trust in Karma and fate.
Rational Effort: The poet shows a clear contrast in the father. He is a “sceptic, rationalist,” so he trusts science. He tries many things to stop the poison. He uses “powder, mixture, herb and hybrid.” He even burns the toe with paraffin. The poet says,
“I watched the flame feeding on my mother.”
These acts show his deep fear, too. His logic fights the villagers’ belief. This clash of ideas gives the poem a strong human shape.
Pain and Human Bond: The mother’s pain grows for many hours. The poet sees her twist and suffer on the mat. The villagers sit around her in silence. The poet says there was “the peace of understanding on each face.” Their unity shows human care. Even their wrong ideas come from goodwill. The father keeps trying hard. The holy man chants spells. All acts show how humans stand close to danger. Pain brings them together in that small home.
Mother’s Selfless Love: This is the strongest theme in the poem. After twenty hours, the poison grows weak. The poet says,
“After twenty hours it lost its sting.”
At the end, the mother speaks one line. She says,
“Thank God the scorpion picked on me and spared my children.”
This line shows her pure love. She forgets her own pain. She cares only for her children. Her love rises above fear, superstition, and hurt. This ending gives the poem a deep human truth.
The poem shows many strong themes linked with rural life. Fear comes first when the sting hits the family. Superstition rules the villagers and guides their words. The mother’s love shines more than all other acts. Her final line shows her pure heart. The poet uses simple images and real scenes to show fear, superstition, and maternal love.
Continue Reading
Subscribe to access the full content
Upgrade to Premium